Known as a premier harp and piano instructor in the greater Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, Dr. Shelley Wiest is also recognized nationally as an accomplished and versatile
performer on both instruments. Dr. Wiest began piano lessons at the age of four and harp
lessons as a teenager. She definitely knew that her calling was to teach music by the time
she was a seventh-grader. Shelley served as student conductor of her high-school band and
high-school and college choirs. As well, she began teaching private lessons while in college.
After earning a double bachelor’s degree in both instrumental and vocal music, two master’s degrees
in music, and a doctoral degree in music, Dr. Wiest began her rise through the various ranks
of professorship in higher education. She earned the rank of full professor in her early forties.
As well, Dr. Wiest always maintained a private teaching studio, having single-handedly
formed two very large harp ensembles from scratch (MSU Harp Ensemble, TX and Harpestry,
AZ).
As Shelley was finishing her textbook for the McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, she learned
of her husband’s transfer to Phoenix, AZ. Perplexed by the decision of whether to continue to teach at the collegiate level or to start a new teaching studio in Phoenix, Dr. Wiest chose
the latter upon the family’s move in 2000. She has solely specialized in the training of harpists
and pianists of all ages and all levels of experience since that time.